Monday, April 14, 2008

Star Magazine "Miley Cyrus' New Choppers!"

I'd like to comment on the recent article appearing in "Star Magazine" on April 9 2008 regarding Miley Cyrus' New smile. 

"Did teen singing sensation Miley Cyrus finally decide to tune up her teeth? The Hannah Montana star's formerly snaggletoothed smile now looks dramatically different: Her bottom choppers have become straighter, her top front teeth are noticeably less prominent and her grin is much brighter overall! 
 
"It looks as though she's had some porcelain veneers put on her front teeth. And her small incisors appear to have been covered to make them look longer and more balanced with the rest of her mouth," Michael D. Kosdon, D.D.S., a Burbank, Calif.-area dentist, tells Star. "
From my experience Miley has had her teeth bleached to get them whiter.  The improvement in her tooth alignment and tooth position is most likely from orthodontic (Braces) treatment.

It is obvious that Miley does not have braces on the front of her teeth.  But there are other options to traditional or the newer self-ligating braces (Damon,  Speed, In-ovation and others).

The newest most cosmetic (more than invisalign) and more effective than invisalign are iBraces.  These braces go on the back of the teeth and are virtually invisible with no plastic tray over the front of the teeth.  This type of brace will cause some speech issues because they limit the tongue position behind your teeth.

For any person especially a young teen like Miley Cyrus porcelain veneers are not recommended to cosmetically improve a smile.  This is according to an article published in the April 2008 issue of  "The Journal of the American Dental Association".  The article is found on page 424 and is entitled "The myth of instant orthodontics An ethical quandary"  by Dr. Nancy Jacobson DMD; Dr. Charles A. Frank DMD MS  from Jacksonville Clinic, College of Dentistry, University of Florida.

Some of the conclusions of the article are: "Preparation of a tooth for a Porcelain Veneer Restoration is not a reversible procedure,"  "Restorative alignment of a malaligned  healthy tooth with a Porcelain Veneer Restoration in not a minimally invasive procedure"  "Orthodontic alignment of  tooth before its restoration reduces the removal of healthy tooth structure, decreases the amount of dentin exposed and minimizes the possibility of creating pulpal or periodontal problems"

For any adult and especially for a child or teen if someone recommends a cosmetic dental procedure to fix your crooked or crowded teeth please see an orthodontist first.

An Orthodontist is often the best "Cosmetic Dentist" that you could see.  Braces are most often less expensive than Porcelain Veneers,  will not cause permanent destruction of healthy teeth, will not increase the risk of gum problems, and Veneers will often need to be replaced several times over ones life.  Each time a veneer is replace more & more of your natural tooth gets removed.

I think Miley Cyrus is a great example to all kids that getting your fixed with braces is a service for everyone.  If you do not want your braces to be seen there are options like invisalign & iBraces.

Thanks
Dr. Shawn M Bader DDS MS


Photos are from Star Magazines on line site.



Saturday, April 12, 2008

Hello & Welcome

I hope to use this space to give you my thoughts on both fun & occasionally important issues we face.  

For now please watch this video I made a couple of years ago with my son on a visit to my office.


Thanks Dr. B.

If you would like more information on getting an amazing smile visit out website at WWW.FACESOTHODONTICS.COM